Plan Ahead to Deal with “Eating & Drinking” Friends

So I got the call from a friend (we’ll call her A.) to go out this evening for drinks. A warning bell went off in my head. A. is a NYC event planner and is one of my funnest “eating and drinking” friends. I have blogged about our nights out together in the past. And at my suggestion, tonight we are going to BLT Steak. Good and bad. Good because it’s right across the street from my office and very convenient for me. And bad because A. knows the maitre de and bartenders… which often means lots of food and large pours of wine!   (Pic is of A. and myself at a previous  night out)  Notice the “attractive” (not) bartender in the background lifting his shirt!

I’m sure you all have “eating and drinking” friends. They are the type  of people that somehow get you to eat and drink more than you planned. The friends that say “Come one, let’s just SPLIT one more glass of wine”. Somewhere in your foggy mind this sounds ok. Until it happens again 10 minutes later. You get the point. Or perhaps these friends are so entertaining (as A is) that you forget how much you are consuming. Your hands will reach again and again into the bowl of nuts  – even forgetting whose filthy hands may have been in the bowl moments ago! Or you agree to “split” the chocolate dessert.

Julia the trainer joined us and immediately found the popovers and had an unfortunate accident with a chocolate mousse dessert. (pic is Julia with popover)

Here are the potential problems I am facing tonight:
1. The possibility of too many glasses of wine.

2. The possiblity of too much food. We usually start off with a healthy tuna tartare and ceviche while sitting at the bar, but then somehow more food starts to appear in front us. And then there is the dreaeded but delicious popover! Things get even worse as desserts seem to appear in front of us as well (sent over by the maitre de)

3. If the above sceniero occurs, chances are that I won’ t be feeling to well tomorrow. This is not a good thing.

Here is my plan for tonight to deal with my “eating and drinking” friend:
1. Stay hydrated all day. Last week when meeting friends for drinks after work, I barely drank any water all day. (Shame on me!) I ended up with a vile headache all day long the next day (might of also had a little something to do with the bartender’s never ending wine pours at Smith & Wolensky! I find when you are hydrated, you body is better able to handle the alcohol.

2. Eat a light snack before walking across the street to BLT Steak. Hopefully this will help to curb excess hunger levels.

3. Make a pact with myself right now that I WILL NOT HAVE ANY DESSERT OR POPOVERS. I find it helps to rehearse the upcoming scenerio in your head. Envision yourself only having 2 glasses of wine, a light apppetizer (or two if you share with a friend) and no dessert or bread.

4. Push the tasty dish of almonds sitting on the bar out of my reach as they are addicting…

Here are some other tips, tricks and fibs that I have previously posted to help minimize the damage from hanging out with your “eating and drinking” friends:
1. You have to get up really early the next day. Tell your friends that you have an early 7 am meeting the next day so you can only stay for one drink as you need to get to bed early so that you can be at your best the next morning.  Or say that you can only stay for one drink because you have to go home and work on a presentation that is due the next morning.  (Pic is of a hand picking at popover.)

2. You are having blood work done the next morning and really can’t have alcohol or fatty food in your blood as that will affect the results. Of course, you can’t use this excuse all the time or people will start to get concerned for your health. However, in general, people (even eating and drinking friends) tend to be more understanding if you present a health or business reason for not joining in 100% with the festivities.

3. You had a really late lunch so aren’t that hungry. But now you must stay strong and not eat that much, otherwise you can’t use this excuse any more as you lost your credibility.

4. Arrive a litte late. That way they have already had a drink or two. Less time in the bar = less alcohol consumed.

5. You are dehydrated. Say you just came from the gym and really dehydrated (as evidenced by feeling slightly dizzy). You need to first have several big glasses of water prior to starting in on the adult beverages. Let them have another glass of wine while you drink your water.

6. Order a drink that you know you will drink more slowly. For example, I drink red wine more slowly than white wine.

7. Do not stand near the snacks at the bar. Let your friends sit at the bar near the tempting bar snacks or food and you stand. You will be less likely to keep reaching over them to eat the food.

Check out this other post for more tips:
Beware of bar snacks

I’ll keep you all posted on how I handle my night with A  – and see if I practice my own tips!